Variable exhaust-nozzle for locomotives



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' G. H. WATSON.

VARIABLE EXHAUST NOZZLE'POB, LOCOMOTIVES. I No. 502,796. 7 Patented Aug.8, 1893.-

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GEORGE H. WATSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VARIABLE EXHAUST-NOZZLE FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 502,796, dated August 8,1893. Application filed January 23, 1893- Serial No. 459,493- (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WATSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Variable Exhaust-Nozzles for Locomotives, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement upon previous constructions of variableexhaust nozzles and is designed to simplify such previous constructionsand also to obviate some obj ections encountered in their working.

The invention consists in the combination with an exhaust nozzle of aplate movable over the nozzle opening and furnished with a series ofopenings graduated as to their area and adapted to be severallypositioned in line with the nozzle opening so as to contract or enlargethe same, those portions of the plate between the openings being beveledto a knife-edge at the bottom so as to afford as little resistance aspossible to the steam during the changes in position of the plate. Theplate is preferably a sliding one and it may be operated by a screw orany appropriate actuating device and be under the control of theengineer. The openings in the plate are also preferably tapering,diminishing in the direction of the discharge. I further provide aseries of springs bearing downward upon this plate and acting to hold itto its seat, such springs yielding and thus permitting the free movementof the plate under the varying expansion of the different parts due toheat, and also allowing for the scale and other foreign matter which mayform or accumulate upon the plate or the ways within which it moves, andwhich would otherwise interfere seriously with its movement. As a stillfurther precaution against friction I provide the plate withanti-friction rollers adapted to ease its move-v ments. All thesefeatures are fully shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure lis an elevation of my improved noz-' zle and its actuating screw,showing its application to the smoke box of the locomotive. Fig. 2 is anenlarged'plan of the nozzle. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a still more enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In said drawings A may represent the smoke box of the locomotive and Bthe exhaust nozzle.

O is the tip portion of the nozzle which is enlarged to form overhangingWays 0 adapted to support and hold the movable plate D. This plate isintended to regulate the area of the nozzle orifice according to thenecessities of the work which the locomotive may have to do, and toadapt the plate to this function, it is made to move horizontally acrossthe nozzle and is provided with a series of openings at which aregraduated in area as shown, and any one of which may be positioned overthe nozzle and serve to enlarge or contract the orifice thereof as willbe fully understood from the drawings. The openings d taper in diameter,diminishing from the under side of the plate toward the top thereof asindicated whereby the area of the openings is gradually reduced, and thearea of all the openings is made to agree at the point where the steamenters them, with the diameter of the bore of the nozzle tip 0, and thusto avoid the presence at such point of any abrupt shoulder against whichthe steam would pound.

Within each of the ways a and above the plate D is a series of springs eand a bearing plate E. This feature is intended to allow the plate D tomove easily, notwithstanding the formation of scale, the accumulation offoreign matter upon the surfaces and the unequal expansion under heat ofthe several parts, the springs yielding to the extent rendered necessaryby these causes. I prefer also, in addition to the yielding bearing, tofurther ease the movements of the plates by means of antifrictionrollers flocated in the sides of the movable plate where they will bearagainst the under surface of the bearing plates E, as clearly indicated.

To actuate the plate any suitable device may be employed. I haveillustrated asa, suitable means a screw G stationarily confined at oneend in the depending lip 1) upon one side of the nozzle and having athreaded engagement with a depending leg m upon'the plate. This screwmay be rotated by the hand wheeln located upon the outside of the smokebox, the screw passing through a stuffing box 0 in the wall of the smokebox. Instead of the hand'wheel, or in conjunction with it, additionaloperating mechanism extending to the cab may be provided whereby theengineer may turn the screw without leaving the cab, and while thelocomotive is in motion.

As other forms of variable nozzles have been provided with mechanismwhereby they may be operated from the cab and as many differentconstructions of such mechanisms may be used, I have not thought itnecessary to illustrate any operating device except the hand wheel.

Inasmuch as the plate D will often require to be changed in positionwhile the locomotive is running, it is desirable that those portions ofthe plate lying between the openings 61 and forming the partitionsbetween them, and which must be passed across the nozzle opening, shouldoffer as little resistance to the steam as possible, and hence I reducethem, as nearly as may be, to a knife edge at the bottom, as plainlyillustrated, and thus adapt the partitions to cut or divide the currentof steam as it passes, and to offer as little resistance as possible.

I claim- 1. The combination with an exhaust nozzle having suitable waystherefor, of a movable plate furnished with a series of graduatedopenings adapted to be severally positioned over the nozzle, andyielding ways for the plate, whereby the plate is rendered easilymovable notwithstanding unequal expansion, corrosion (be, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination with an exhaust nozzle having suitable ways therefor,of a sliding plate D furnished with a series of graduated openings, andsprings acting downwardly upon the plate, thus easing its operation andallowing for unequal expansion of the parts, corrosion duo,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an exhaust nozzle having suitable ways therefor,of a sliding plate D furnished with a series of graduated openings, andwith springs and anti-friction rollers adapted to ease its movements,substantially as set forth.

GEORGE I-I. WATSON.

Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, EDWARD S. EVARTS.

